The Difference between the Jinn and Shayateen –Devils

All Praises belongs to Allah the Most High. Allah is the One who sustains life and causes death. I bear witness that He is alone above His throne in a manner that befits His Majesty. I also attest to the fact that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His final Messenger sent to mankind and Jinn. To our topic:

This is part of a collection of terminology and vocabulary that the Muslim should know and understand. Included in this series is the difference between a Messenger and Prophet, the difference between Miskeen and Fuqarah, the difference between Islamand Iman and various others. This definition and benefit was taken from the Majmu’ Fatawa of Shyakh Muhammad ibn Salih Uthaymeen(may Allah have mercy on him). The selections are my own based on what the ulema have mentioned in their books of Fiqh, Hadeeth, Usul and Tafseer. These definitions helped me to understand the language of the scholars better, in particularly religious verdicts. And I hope it will assist my brothers and sister as well. Ameen.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Question: May Allah reward you Abundantly. Abdul Majeed Muhammad has a question. He asks ,” What is the difference between the Jinn and Shayateen? Are they the same species? “

Answer: As-Shayateen can be from the Jinn and Human being. This is similar to Allah’s saying,”

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Shayatin (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications. [ Al-Anaam 112]

And sometimes Shaytan are among those that don’t possess intelligence as found in the Prophet’s (peace and blessing be upon him) statement, “

Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zalimoon (polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc )[ al-Kahf 50]